Tank-vehicle construction



Oct- 13, 1925- Y A. L. WERTZ TANK VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12. 192s 4 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 13l 1925. y 1,556,883

A. L. wER'rz TANK VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12. 1923 4 Sheets-Shet 3 ,TII u W I TNESSES: 10 1 I N VEN TOR:

usi L. "feng l oct. 13, 1925. J 1,556,883

A. L. WERTZ TANK VEHICLE CONSTRUCTIO Filed May 12, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J6 Flai 1U.

WITNESSES: JNVENTOR.-

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APatented Oct. 13, 1925.. y

UNITED s'ra'rlazs PATENT'7 OFFICE.

AUSTIN L. WERTZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TANx-vEHIcLE CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed May 12,

' lubricating oils or other liquid commodities.

' In the latter connection, it has heretofore been customary to employ single tanks with dividing partitions at 4intervals in them to provide separate and distinct compartments in order that a number of different liquids could be carried at the same time, or the same liquid in different quantities to obviate subsequent measuring at the points lof delivery. Such tanks were open to several objections amongst which may be mentioned the difficulty of maintaining the different compartments againstcross leakage and the necessity in many instances for discarding an entire tank in the case of damage to any part of the same incurred as a result of collisions or road shocks.

The main object of my invention is to overcome the diiculties to which reference has been made, and this I accomplish by provision of a tank organization constituted of a number of composite units complete in themselves,adapted tobe arran ed end to end in a series, and standardize as to dimensions for interchangeability when substition should be required as a result of an accident or for the purpose of yeifecting a change in relative un1t capacities.

My invention is further directed toward provisin of means whereby the `units aforesaid are secured one to the other and to the 1923. Serial No. 638,478.

follows, ofa typical embodiment of my invention; while the appended claims clearly define the scope of lmy invention in so far as it comes within my presentknowledge.

In the drawings Fig. I is a side elevation of a tank vehicle characterizing thei novel features of my invention.

'Fig.II is an inverted plan view of the superstructure of the vehicle, the chassis of scurngof certain important details.

Fig. III is a. rear elevation of the vehicle showing more particularly the storage re stituting the tank organization, and the man-V ner in which such units are' secured to the supporting frame of the superstructure; and

Fig. VI is a view similar to Fig. V showing the manner in which the box, or storage receptacle is secured to the rearmost tank unit and to the supporting frame.

In theillustrations, the chassis of the vehicle is shown as comprising the usual frame 1 and rear wheels 2 together kwith other parts of the chassis which, having been omitted from the drawings, may be of any standard or approved design, and need not therefore be further described in detail herein. Mounted upon the chassis frame 1 and rigidly secured thereto, is a superstructure which includes .an auxiliary frame comprehensively indicated by the numeral 3, said frame serving as the mounting for a tank 4: composed of a series of consecutively'arranged units 5, 6 and 7. The auxiliary frame 3 also serves to support, at the rear of the vehicle, a receptacle or box 8 provided for storage of buckets, funnels and other accessories ordinarily used in vconnection with dispensing of liquid commodities. As shown, the auxiliary frame 3 includes a number of main members or sill beams 9 preferably timbers having an oblong crosssection as best seen in Fig. III. These sill .beams 9 extend longitudinally of the chassis .frame l and are directly supported upon the side rails 10 of the latter, see Fig.4 I. The auxiliary frame 3 further includes a multiplicity of lateral or cross-members in `the form of structural I-beams 10 which 65 thelatter having been omitted to avoid obbridge the longitudinal sill beams 9 as Clearly shown. These lateral beams 10 are secured to the sill beams 9-by bolts 11 which', pass through the bottomy langes 12 of said lateral beams, andengage straddle clamp plates 13 seated in appropriate recesses orV contacting surfaces vas suggested conven-y tionally at 17 in' the drawings. If the lateral beams 10 should be constructed as forgings the segments 15 could obviously be made continuous with the top flanges 17. If desired, the transverse beams of the frame 3 may be extended at opposite sides of the vehicle as clearly shown in Figs. III and IV, for the purpose of sustaining enclosed loverhang platforms 18.such as vare ordinarily used in vehicles or this type for.

the accommodation of cans or other vessels in ,which smaller quantities of the liquid commodities may be stored. `J

From the above it` will be seen that the auxiliary frame 3 acts in the capacity of ai cradle support for the tank 4 which as shown in Figs. IV and V is made elliptical in cross-section with the major axis of the ellipse disposed horizontally The elliptical CII form is preferred to the circular for the reason that it is more stable under lateral motion of the vehicle during travel oyer rough roads, and further because it is advantageous in offsetting the tendency of the liquid contents to roll independently and disturb the equilibrium of the structure generally. Surging of the contents of the tank' in a direction longitudinally of the vehicle is offset, and `to a great extent prevented -by interposition, at intervals lengthwise of 'the component tank units, of baille plates having the irregular outline indicated at 19 in Fig. IV, so that suitable intervals are afforded intermediate the points of attachment whereby free communication may take place between the subdivisions setup in the tank units and to permit complete drainage from a single outlet in each.

Pausing at this juncture to study the specific construction of the tank units, from Fig. V it will be observed that the ends of their shells 20 are closed by heads 21, each formed with a laterally extending of the tank unit. Such a protuberance 23 may be formed as the result of swedging an annular groove or depression 24 which is in turn used for a purpose toA be hereinafter explained. After placing the head 21 within the end of the shell 20, Vthe edge of the latter is rolled inward so as to overlap intimately, a substantial margin of the head, and the joint is thereafter sealed fluid-tight by welding as suggested at 25. By this method of construction and arrangement, the weld joint 25 is entirely free from strains and therefore not likely to be ruptured asI invariably happens with corner joints. f-Moreover, by reason of its position the welded joint 25 is appropriately protected from injury through impact.

Again referringto Fig. V, and also to Fig.

I, it will be observed' that each transverse or cradle beam 10 except the rearmost one (for a reason which will presently become ap arent) serves to support the contiguous en s of a pair of adjacent tank units, and that the rolled portions 16 of the saddle segments 15 correspond with the perimetrical depressions or grooves 24 of the tank shells 2O so as to be capable of interengaging with them and therebyl prevent displacement of the tank units relative to one another and to the supporting frame In order to compensate forV any irregularities or inaccuracies between the general curvature of the tank units- 5, 6 and 7 or that of the saddle segments 15, and also toprevent direct metallic contact, I prefer to interpose between them a layer 26 of suitable packing material such for example as felt. functions in the additional capacity to protect the tank unit ends 21, 21 to acertain extent, against shocks incident to vehicular travel.

The ends of contiguous tank units 5, 6 and 7,y are tied continuously together through the aid of connecting vsegments 27 which serve as complements to, and cooperate with the saddle segments 15 of the lateral frame beams 10, and with the same, constitute complete perimetrical lenveloping bands. As

will be apparent from further cursory examination of Fig. V, the cross-section of the lcomplemental segments 27 is identical to that of the saddle segments 15 of the transverse beams .10', their rolled portions being adapted to engage the remaining portions ot the perimetrical depressions or grooves 24 approximate the tank ends. The interrup-y tions between s'egments 15, 27 which constitut-e the connecting bands are bridged by draw or tension bolts 28, said bolts extendingL through tubular ears 29 and 30 respectivelyT welded or otherwise' appropriately secured to said segments 15, 27, see Fig. IV.

peripheral flange 22 adapted to seat against In this way the tank units 5, 6 and 7 are not anannular, inward protuberance 23 directly adjacent the corresponding end of the shell only continuously connected together but at the same time secured to thetransverse mem- Such packing lsupplemental connecting segments 27 previously referred to, `said 'straps 31 in turn enveloping 'the greater portion of the tank periphery and having their opposite ends formed with belt prolongations 32 adapted to be secured to fixed anchorages 33 at opposite sides of transverse beams 10.

One departure or exception is made to the general construction and mounting of the tank units 5, 6 and 7, as hereinbefore' described,` and this in connection with the unit 7 whose rear end, see Fig. VI, instead ot being provided With but the single groove 24 affording the abutment for its head, has a second perimetrical groove 35 spaced from the rst to correspond with the spacing of the edge ridges 16 of the segment 15 associated With the rearmost transverse beam 10 so that the back end of the unit 7 is Wholly supported by the saidv transverse beam, a layer of packing 26 being interposed, as before, for the reason already understood. The illustration last referred to further shows that the shell 36 ofthe bucket compartment 8 is coupled directly to the rear end of the tank unit 7 said shell being pro-l vided at its inner end witha rolled edge37' ladapted to tit between the rolled edge of the supplemental segment 27 and the hold-down strap 31 whereby the rear end of the -tank unit'7 is secured against displacement upon the auxiliary supporting frame 3. The upper portion of the bucket compartment 8 is of course arched or rounded as clearly shown in Fig. lIII to conform with the curvature of the tank and to make possible the interposition of the inner end of its shell 36 betweenl the segment 27 and the hold-down strap 31 as noted. Otherwise the bucket compartment 8 may have any desired construction. For example, it may be swedged as at 391-40 to provide abutments for its front and rear Walls 41-42, the latter of the two having hinged doors 43 wherebyaccess may be had to the interior of Ithe compartment 8. As a means of protection against possible denting, the compartment 8 may be lined with wood or other suitable material as suggested at, 44 in Fig. VI.

`larger tank unit 5 should warrant it, they.

may be provided as shown in Fig. I with in termediate hold-down straps 31a detachably anchored to the transverse beams 10 of the frame 3 in the same manner as the others previously described. The customary 'adjuncts essential to the individual tank units are also provided, these including a man hole cover 45 with an appropriately protected fill opening 46, and an emergency lvalve 47 of an approved or standard type.

Each tank unit 5, 6 andv 7 furthermore has a gravity outlet 50 (see Fig. II) in communication with a suitable double drain pipe 51, the latter extending to a con-v pensative adjustment may take place to a limited extent, at different points along'the tank organization, suchas Will assist in preventingrupture or other injury, and therefore promote longevity of the structure as a whole. Furthermore myA improved construction facilitates ready interchange of tank units, and injury to one will not necessarily impair thelusefulness of the others so that the vehicle may even b'e employed with a faulty unit until replacement can conveniently be made. Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A structure of the character described including a tank comprising component, interchangeable iangeless units arranged end to end, and a mounting trame affording transverse members each adapted to directly support the contiguous langele ends of a pair-of adjacent tank units, the unit ends and the transverse members being comple-mentarily ridged and recessed for inter-i engagement to prevent displacement of the tank units relative to each other and to the mounting frame. 2. A structure of the character described including a tank comprising a series of component, interchangeable angeless units ari ranged end to end in juxtaposed relation, connecting means in the form of perimetrical bands extending about and overlappln contiguous flangeless endsof adjacent tan including a tank comprising a series of componeiit iangeless units arranged end to end,

a supporting frame affording transverse members respectively adapted to directly support the contiguous flangeless ends of adjacent units, each of said members being formed with a saddle segment with rolled edges affordingiridges for inter-engagement with corresponding per'rmetrical grooves adjacent the unitl ends, and detachable, counterpart complemental segments likewise overlapping the contiguous unit ends'and similarly rolled to engage the remaining portions of the aforesaid perimetrical grooves, and-means for securing the tank to the support.

4. A structure of the character described including a tank comprising a series of component flangeless units arranged end to end,

grooves, means for securing the tank to the support, and hold--down straps of arched cross-section adapted' to embrace the com# plemental segments, said straps enveloping the greater portion of the tank perimeter, and having their opposite extremities ani chored to the supporting frame so as to prevent lateral displacement of the tank onl said frame.

5. A structure-of the character described including a tank comprising a series of component interchangeable flangeless units arranged end to end, a cradle frame for the tank affording a number of transverse concaved I-beams having the upper ianges longitudinally rolled to directly support the contiguous flangeless and annularly recessed `ends of a pair of adjacent tank units, holddown straps embracing the greater portion of the tank perimeter with the longitudinal edges inwardly rolled and respectively overlapping the contiguous ends of adjacent tank units supported by the transverse beams' aforesaid, and said straps having `their extremities anchored to the cradle frame so as to prevent lateral and longitudinaldisplacement of the tank onthe frame. 6. A lstructure of the character described including a flangeless tank, asupport for the tank, a storage compartment aligned with the tank at one end and made continuous therewith through marginal overlapping of their respective cshells, and a tie strap enveloping the overlap, said strap having its ends anchored to the support so as to secure the tank and storage compartment to each other and to the support.

7. A structure of the character described including a langeless tank, a support for the tank, a storage compartment aligned `with the tank at one end and made continuous therewith through marginal overlapping of their shells, a ridge formed in one she-ll and adapted to engage a corresponding recess in the other within the margin of overlap to prevent relative displacement of the tank and said storage compartment, andl a tie strap enveloping the overlap to maintain the connection aforesaid between the tank and the compartment and to secure the two to the support.-

In testimony whereof, I have Ihereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 10th day of May, 1923.

AUSTIN L. WERTZ. 

